Automobile-fender.



R. M. NELSON. AUTOMOBILE FENDER APPucAfion FILED o:c.1. ms.

Patented June 5, 1917.

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311W Robert mmum I UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

normal" 11. un son; or lemon, 'mcnrean, ASSIGNOB or mnnjnn-i onn'rns'ro- MARY rmnnres AND oxen-room TO enonen w. mnsxnns, norm or omit-orgMICHIGAN I AUTOMOBILE-FENDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 1; 191B.- Serial No. 134,292;

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Bonnn'r M. NnLsoN,

a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in thecounty of Wayne 'dinary blow on the end of thefendcr will not completelydemolish the end of the fender; to so construct and arrange the supportthat it will directly reinforce the vizor or front end of the fender; toprovide a construction in -which the portion of the fender directly inthe rear of the support will be free to give or flex under the impact ofblow and thus spring back into shape without permanent injury to thefender.

The invention also resides in such details of construction andarrangements and com-- binetions of parts as will more fully hereinafterappear.

In the drawings: Figure 1 iso perspective view of a tender embodying mymvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the fender support detached;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar section showing a slightly modified construction; 1

Fig. 5 is atop pla n view 01" the construction shown in Fig. i.

Describing in detail the particuhuconstruction shown in the drawings, Adcsig-- notes the fender which has an apron 1% extending down toward theside sill C of the automobile frame, The fcndcr A is prefcrably curvedand provided at its front end with a downwardly turned flange or vizorD.

l-Ieretofore in supporting fenders of this type the bracket or othersupporting member has been locatcd rcasrwmfdly from the flange T) aconsiderable distance, and in case of a colllsionor other blow on theend of the fender the vmor and other front por-"l tions of the fenderwould be bent entirely;

out of shape, so as to require a new fender or extensive repairs.

v Tlhepresent invention, however, contemplates a construction wherebythe bracket or supporting member E extends forward and directlyreinforcesthe fiangeor vizor D. In detail this bracket or supportingmember E comprises an upright portion F having a cloverleaf or other soporting portion G which is connected to t e side sill at a point just inthe rear ofthe apron edge ll. At' its upper end the upright F is bent toprovide aforwardly extending portion-I terminating in a curved portionJ. The latter is preferably of a shape to fit directly inside of theflange or vizor Dand may be secured thereto by rivets or any other suit:

able securing means.

In certain constructions of fenders the flange D is omitted and theforward end of the fender curved down as indicated at K in Fig. 4. Withsuch constructions the the curved reinforcing portion J is used in thesame manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3 but is made toconform to the shape of the forward end of the fender, In eithercasep asshown in Figs. 4 and 5. the supporting member or bracket forms a directreinforcement for the flanged .end of the fender, while the portion inthe rear of the front is free to flex. There will be sulficient give tothe metal forming the fender to permit it to flex under the impact "of ablmvand spring back into shape without permanent injury to the fender.Thus a blow which would generally demolish the 1?atentedt Tune 5,"1917.1

front end of the fender is taken care of by the novel construction ofsupporting andrcinforcing member above described.

.lYhllc T have shown a reinforcing memberns formed of a. flat strip ofmetal, It IS obvious tho! it could b of circular or other cross section,and various changes made within the scope of my invention.

'hat Tclaim as my invention is:

1. Thecombination with a fender having a curved portion and a. dependingfront flange, of a support thcrcfmcitcndiug beneath the curved portiondirectly adjacent the flanged cud. k

2. The combination with a tender having a curved portion and :1depending front the flan ed end, and having a flange fitting inside 0the fender flange.

3. The combination with a fender having a curved portion and a dependinfront flan e, of a support therefor exten ing beneet the curved portiondirectly adjacent the flanged end, and having a flange fitting. insideof the fenderflenge, the fender having a portionoi lesser reslstenceLocated in the rear of the supported. oftibn. 10

In testimony whereof I a 1; my signature.

ROBERT MNELSON.

